Browns

Weeden, McCoy, Richardson Sit Out Practice; Browns Add QB Insurance

Quarterback Brandon Weeden #3 of the Cleveland Browns is attended to after being sacked by outside linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 23, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. Weeden was injured on the play and left the game as the Broncos defeated the Browns 34-12. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

BEREA (92.3 The Fan) - The Cleveland Browns could have their 3rd string quarterback on the field Sunday in Pittsburgh to start the season finale.

Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy both missed practice Wednesday with shoulder injuries and the team signed quarterback Josh Johnson off the street.

Weeden, who sustained a sprained shoulder during the 3rd quarter of Sunday’s 34-12 loss to Denver, likely won’t play Sunday against the Steelers but coach Pat Shurmur refuses to officially rule him as well as running back Trent Richardson out for the game.

“The injuries to Brandon and Trent are not as serious as you might have thought,” Shumur said. “We’ll see how they come back. If they are healthy, they will play. If they can’t, I have no problem ruling them out.”

Richardson injured his left ankle, which he had surgery on in high school, in the closing minute but X-rays came back negative.

Thaddeus Lewis, who was signed from the practice squad to the active roster on Monday, took the first team reps during Wednesday’s practice.

“Whoever’s in there I trust,” Shurmur said. “I’ve had experience with Thad in the past. He hasn’t had a lot of opportunity in regular season games to go in there and play, but if he’s in there playing, we definitely trust that he’ll do a good job.”

McCoy sustained a shoulder injury in Sunday’s loss at Denver as well and was unable to practice. Shurmur said McCoy received treatment this week after complaining of soreness.

“Colt came in and told us he was sore,” Shurmur said. “He’s getting treated.”

Shurmur declined to say whether or not McCoy’s injury was as serious as Weeden’s.

The Browns added some insurance under center for this week by signing Johnson, who was released by San Francisco at the end of training camp. Johnson played in 26 games for the Buccaneers after being a 5th-round pick in 2008. He has started 5 games and threw for 5 touchdowns and 10 interceptions overall.

“We felt like he would be a good guy to bring in and see what he can do,” Shurmur said. “We’ve been working with him for a solid day now and from what I’ve seen, he’s got some familiarity with what we do. If he has to go in, I’m sure we’d have to pare it way down which is the case when you bring in a guy with just a couple of days of preparation. But, we’d be confident that he can go in there and at least execute.”

To make room for Johnson, safety Usama Young was placed on injured reserve after sustaining a thumb injury that will require surgery.

Young played in 13 games with 11 starts this year. He recorded 52 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 7 passes defensed and a fumble recovery.